University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NN
Tel 028 9097 2757
admissions@qub.ac.uk
www.qub.ac.uk
Open days: contact the university

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 42 (37)

Student satisfaction 74.5%
Head teacher ranking 43= (102=)
Peer ranking 29= (21=)
Research quality 63.9%
A-level/Higher points 352
Unemployment 5.5%
Firsts and 2:1s 69%
Student/staff ratio 15.2:1
Dropout rate 15.2% (11.4%)
World ranking 202

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 13,364 (4,249)
Postgraduates 2,511 (2,098)
Teaching staff 884
Applications/places 18,343/3,707; 4.9:1 (+6.1%)
Clearing entry 6.4%
Live in 16% (96%) £64-£91
Bursaries 40%: £110-£1,185
Scholarships Various: £1,000-£2,500

SOCIAL MIX
EU/overseas 2.6%/1.4%
Mature 12.3%
State school 99.4%
Lowest social classes 34.4%
Low-participation areas 6.1%

The opening last month of the Sir Anthony O’Reilly library gives Queen’s a university library to compare with the very best: 2,000 reader places and 1.5m volumes brought together in a new learning facility that incorporates the latest in computer services, a media and technology centre, group study rooms and even a cafe.

As of 2007, Queen’s has been a member of the 20-strong Russell Group of research-intensive universities. It ranked 37th in the UK in a Sunday Times analysis of last year’s research assessment exercise results. Anthropology, music and English had the highest proportion of world-leading researchers (all 35%).

Some 25 subjects secured excellent ratings for teaching quality in the now-defunct system of official appraisals. That quality has not been translated into success in the annual student satisfaction survey that replaced it. Queen’s satisfaction rating of 74.5% is close to the UK average. Physical science students (83.2%) are the happiest among Belfast's 13,000-strong full-time undergraduates.

The university is a key player in the Northern Ireland economy. It recruits predominantly from the island of Ireland and its graduates fill many of the top jobs. More than 50 companies spun out of Queen’s research generate about £102m in turnover and employ close to 1,000 people. At 5.5%, the graduate unemployment rate is well below the UK average and with 78.8% of them landing graduate-level jobs, Queen’s ranks in the top 25 universities.

Far more socially inclusive than other universities of a similar academic pedigree, about 40% of students at Queen’s benefit from a bursary. Those from the poorest backgrounds (homes with annual income of less than £18,820) get a £1,185 annual bursary, although this declines to just a £110 once household income rises above £23,820 and to nothing at all when it hits £10,000 more than that. The 20 best qualified students get a £1,000 scholarship for their first year, while the best in each of the three faculties get a £2,500 annual scholarship.

Sports provision is outstanding, with investment planned for the outdoor facilities now that £7m has been poured into the indoor facilities at the physical education centre.

STUDENT VIEW

Shane Brogan, students’ union president:

First impressions The university is its own self-contained village.
Worst feature Local students go home at weekends.
Facilities The new library cost £45m and is one of the best in Europe.
Deal clincher You’ve got the history of a Russell Group university, but with a thoroughly modern outlook.

Rated excellent (25)
Applied social work; archeology; business and management; Celtic studies; civil engineering; classics and ancient history (Greek, Roman and Byzantine studies); dentistry; economics; education; education (St Mary’s University College); education (Stranmillis University College); electrical and electronic engineering; English; history; law; maths, statistics and operational research; medicine; music; nursing; pharmacology and pharmacy; physics and astronomy; politics; psychology; theology and religious studies; town and country planning and landscape (environmental planning).

Student satisfaction
Physical Science 83.2; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 80.9; Medical Science and Pharmacy 80.6; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 79.4; European Languages and Area studies 79; Social Work 78.6; Mathematical Sciences 77.7; Biology and related Sciences 77.6; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 77.4; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 76.8; History and Archaeology 76.5; Nursing 75.8; Performing Arts 75.8; English-based studies 74.1; Computer Science 74; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 74; Media studies 73.1; Economics 72.9; Agriculture and related subjects 72.3; Mechanically-based Engineering 71.9; Architecture, Building and Planning 71.7; Medicine and Dentistry 71.4; Psychology 71; Finance and Accounting 69.5; Politics 68.9; Law 68.9; Management 68.2

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